Home Pregnancy Test FAQs

Can fertility medications such as Clomid, Serophene, Gonal-F, Follistim, Humegon, Pergonal, Repronex or Fertinex cause false positives on home pregnancy tests?
The only fertility drugs that can cause a false positive are those that contain hCG.

Can progesterone supplements cause a false positive home pregnancy test?
No. Home pregnancy tests are designed to detect hCG, not progesterone. They are two completely different hormones.

Can I tell if my hCG level is doubling by retesting with a home pregnancy test and looking for a darker line?
No. Home pregnancy tests are not accurate enough to show an increase in your hCG level. Only a quantitative blood test can show you this.

What if my hCG levels aren't doubling every 2 to 3 days from a quantitative blood test?
Don't worry, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. Still, your doctor will want to perform an early ultrasound because slow-rising hCG can be related to impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. On average, hCG levels double every two days from 4 to 6 weeks, then every three days, and finally slowing to every four days. Levels peak near the end of the first trimester, and it isn't until the second trimester that hCG levels start to decline.

If I am pregnant, how long will my doctor monitor hCG levels?
Doctors usually do two or three hCG levels to confirm that yours is doubling. Because hCG levels vary, many doctors will stop monitoring after the baby's heartbeat is detected. Once a heartbeat is seen or heard, the chance of miscarriage drops significantly.

I had a positive result, but my period started. What happened?
It could have been one of two things: a false positive, or an early miscarriage. The only way to know for sure is to ask your doctor immediately for a quantitative hCG blood test. If you were pregnant and had an early miscarriage, the test can still detect the hormone in your system on the first day of bleeding.

I got a negative test result last week but I still haven't started my period. Should I test again?
Yes. Most home pregnancy test instructions state that you should take another test if you haven't started your period a week after you received a negative result. The test may not have picked up the hCG in your system.

I have all the symptoms of a pregnancy and got a faint positive on a home pregnancy test. My qualitative (yes/no) hCG blood test came back negative. Am I pregnant or not?
Be sure you're checking the results of your home pregnancy test in the time specified by the instructions to ensure you are not seeing an evaporation line. The best thing to do is have a quantitative hCG blood test done to measure your actual hCG level.

Can prescription or over-the-counter medication interfere with home pregnancy test results?
No. Unless the medication contains hCG, it will not interfere with your test result. The same goes for over-the-counter medicine like pain relievers and cough suppressants.

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